Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-05-21

press filled with mountain tourists. But
she must do something.
The men had disappeared around a
slight bend in the track. Mike ran in,
locked up the Office, snatched hat from
a nail in the corner, and then hurried
up the track until she arrived at slight
curve. Then she made haste more
slowly" for there were the men. Step
ping behind clump. of bushes she
watched them. They had stopped and
were doing something, she could not at
first see what, to the track. Pretty soon
up came rail, and in minute more it
was thrown down steep ledge within
four feet of the track-where the whole
train must be precipitated in less than
an hour if something could not be done
to warn them. Mike saw it all now,
and for moment stood, her eyes di-
lated with horror, while she saw the
scoundrels shake their fists toward her
way and heard an lmprecation. Then
they passed on and Mike, growing cold
IN the sudden extremity, turned and
sped toward the depot
The rail had been removed on a
curve which was shaded on the west
side by high bank SO that at half-past
it was quite dusk there, and as the
train always came in on a down grade
they came at full speed. So Mike
thought to herself. "I'm SO glad l came.
for now I'll hurry and telegraph to
Stratford before the train comes by,
and then we'll see, Mr.. Tramps, how
your little scheme comes out"
She reached the office and looked at
the clock. Five minutes to 5! and the
train left Stratford at 5:03. Well, eight
minutes was more than plenty of time
if she could "raise" Stratford. She
grasped the key. "Sd-sd-sd," clicked
the Instrument. Never before was there
so impatient an operator on that line.
With her eyes on the clock, which SEEM
ed then, if ever, to say 'forever-never
-never-forever, she kept up the call.
Somebody on the other side 'broke her"
twice, but she gave all the danger sig
mails she could think of and kept on.
The moments kept on-one. two, three,
four, five-slowly pealed the old clock
each stroke an agony to the girl.
Meanwhile the agent at Stratford
could lot operate at all, and the boy
who ,uld and who served as general
chore-boy about the place, had gone for
the COWS, and there was no one to an
swer the call on which SO much depend
ed.
A few minutes and it was too late,
and Mike was in a new dilemma.
Mike closed the key in despair. She
did not know the train signals, but
seized the red flag under the old desk
and rln for dear life-literally the dear
lives OF her fellow-creatures. Not until
she got to the wrecked place did she
remember. that she must go beyond the
curve to stop them or she would be of
no use. Already she heard the approach
ing train rumble in the distance. Fast
er, faster she sped round the curve
straight on up the track. She could see
them now coming in. On they rushed,
the great engine bent on destroying its
precious freight. Mike stopped in the
midst of the track and franticallY swung
her red flag, but still the monster rush.
ed toward her, showing no abatement
of speed.
Meanwhile the engineer and fireman
had seen the slight form of the girl and
the fireman stood aghast to see the en-
gineer so utterly regardless of her.
stop, MANI he shouted; "don't you
see the girlP"
"Yes,' said the half-drunk engineer.
"Why don't the little fool get out of my
WayP I'll teach her." and made no
movement to stop.
Mike waited with sinking heart
o. why did everything go against herP
Was it the will of God that this dread
full thing must happenP The engine
was close upon her and she ran up on
jutting rock by the railroad still wav-
ing her scarlet fag-but just as the en-
gine came alongside of her she heard
the sharp click of the call-bell in the
engine and saw the fireman push the
engineer aside and reverse the engine.
The conductor, who had just seen her
and excitedly pulled the bell-rope,
jumped off and came toward her. But
the reaction was to much for poor Mike
and she could only gasp out: "Round
the curve" and then she was white
heap, with no sense of anything
Passengers rushed out and, aft
er some had been to the curve and seen
what the little girl had saved them
from. no lady in the land could be SO
Loyalty waited upon as she was when
she had been lifted into the car and
told modestly her little story. 1t was
some little time before the track was
ready for the train to proceed, and,
when Mike got out at her own station,
many kind hands pressed hers in fare
we'll, and the conductor left something
in her hand, too. just as the train left
saying: "You are the bravest little wo-
man in the State"
Not until she had been in the Office a
good half hour with her father. who
had got home from his lawsuit and
wondered what made the train late and
where Mike had gone to, and told him
all the story, did Mike think to look at
the packet Then she read a note;
'Wi1l Miss Eunice Markham accept the
accompanying from the friends she so
bravely saved Aug. 23. 1892"
The note was wrapped around $500
in bank notes.
20. papal now you can pay off the
mortgage on the house." cried Mike,
and the father said:
II declare. Nick. you get higher
A a. -